Chapter 13 Section 1The Rise of African Civilizations

AfricaRainforestsDesertsTropical grasslands (savannas)Almost all lands are on a plateau

Africa by Climate

Zone

West African EmpiresThe Berbers settled in North

Africa Traveled to West Africa for trade

Camels introduced by Romans

West African Empires (cont.)Trade in West Africa led to the

building of vast empires Gold and ivory was traded for cloth

and salt

West African Empire

s

GhanaThe “Crossroads of trade”The traders had to pay passage

fees Made Ghana very wealthy Armies with iron weapons

Ghana (cont.) Discovery of new gold mines outside

of Ghana’s control Reduced the tax on gold

Heavy farming used all the soil’s minerals

Constant fighting

MaliGriots- African storytellersSundiata Keita seized capital of

Ghana Won control of trade routes from

Atlantic coast to Timbuktu Rebuilt Gold and Salt mines

Mali

Songhai Mali rulers were taken over by the

Berbers

Sunni Ali, leader of the Songhai, conquered the Berbers Built the largest West African Empire

West Africa became the center of three large trade empires because of valuable mines

Kingdom of the Rainforest

Kingdoms of the Rainforest Benin in the Niger River Delta

Kongo in the Congo River Basin

Kingdoms of the Rainforest (cont.) Advantages over West Africans

Farmable soil and warm, wet climate

Created surplus supported population Artisans class developed

East Africa Through trade and travel Islam and

Christianity got introduced to Africa Axum

City-state in present day Ethiopia Trading center for Mediterranean and

Eastern Asian world Brought Christianity to Africa

East Africa (cont.) Arab-Muslim traders settled in East

Africa Invented sailboats-dhows Shared goods, ideas, and religion East African ports were the linking world

with Asia

East Africa (cont.)Zimbabwe

Gold, copper, and ivory to east coast